Heat exchanger



-CL 27,1931. C, T, CARLSON 1,828,799

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed March 16, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 fb N I V f n lm 3 u 15# mz N l l zz Snuentor (Ittorneg c. T. CARLSON HEAT EXCHANGER Oct. 27, 1931.

Filed March 16,- 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cf ZT Carloon Gttorneg Patented Oct. 27, 1931V AI UNITED STATES CARL THOMAS CARLSON, oEfnaInrEivNsYLvAivrA l HEAT EXCHANGER VApplication le'd March 16, 1931. Serial o. 523,017.

This invention relates to heat exchangers, and particularly to exchangers of the surface condenser type, altho it may be used to heat a fluid where it is desirable. y

The principal object of the invention is to increase the efficiency' of such vcondensers or heat exchangers, and this is principally effected by a revolving heating or cooling surface which by centrifugal force'throws off the condensation as fast as it is formed, with a resulting increase of the heat transmission.

The apparatus may be used to condense vapor into liquid form by means of another medium which may be either liquid or gaseous.

The vapor to be condensed may be steam.

such'as the exhaust from a steam engine or the like, or it may be vapor evaporated from oil as in the oil industry, or any other vapor capable of being condensed. The cooling medium may be water or air or any other liquid, gas or mixture.

By means of the present invention, instead of the exchanging surface or wall separating the vapor and the cooling medium being stationary, the chamber, pipe or other container enclosing the cooling fluid is caused to rotate so that the condensate will be instantly thrown off of the surface of the container by centrifugal force, and the advantage of such an apparatus is a greatly enlarged capacity for heat exchange and the'apparatus consequently can be built in very small and compact units, saving weight, costand spacev as compared With apparatus for the same purpose with a stationary condensing surface.

Then the vapor'condenses on the revolving surface it produces a thin film or coating on said surface, which with stationary apparatus will remain and form an insulating medium, retarding the heat transmission through the cooling wall until it is removed by gravity, whereas by the present invention this thin film or coating will bey almost instantly removed by the centrifugal force,

thus leaving a dry andcool surface for the l vapor, resulting in a very high efliciency'.

vThe'invention may: be embodied or built in various forms of apparatus, one of which is illustrated inthe accompanying. drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.- f Fig. 3 isa section on the line V3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isase'ction onl the `line l-tofl3`igure 1. In the drawings, 15 indicates a'V shaft mounted to rotate in anysuitable bearings,

and on this Ashaftare fixed two hollow circuy lar heads 17 and 18 which `areconnected byy a multiplicityof-tubeslllr 'The head 17 is hol.- low as shownat 3 and is provided with an annular neck-which surrounds the shaft andv which terminates at its outerfend in a hollow-circular flange 30 which is adapted to turny in a hollow fixed ring or tube 2O having an-inlet 1 and an inner outlet 31 to the -hollow flange 30,- packing being interposed at 23 between interfitting `flanges Vto make the joint lfluid tight while permitting rotation of the innerpartr f `Similarly the hollow head=18 is provided with an annularneck 5 which ends in a hollow vcollar or fla-nge 6 which opens into a ring 7having anoutlet 8.

.Thisring 7 is fixed'to'or forms part of a fixed casing 19 ywhich 7encloses the rotary heads and tubes andrforms the collecting chamberforthecondensate, which has an outlet'at 14, at thebottom.n Suitable packing 23'is interposed ,at the joints between'the hollow .collar 6 and the ring 7, .and also be-A tween a collar 33 onthe Lneck 2, and a flanged ring 34on the casing1'9, to make fluid'tight j oints and parts,

' The .vapor ytobe condensed suppliedv throughv anrinlet 9y toa fixed ring 10 which is hollow and kwhich surrounds' an 'annular hollow collar 21 at the end. of a hollow angular neckll which is fixed toiy the shaft 15 tov fpermit rotation of theinnerl and also to the head 18, and this neck 11 terminates in a vapor outlet 22 leading to the interior of the tubular drum within the casing 19.

In operation the vapor enters through the inlet 9 into the stationary ring 10 from which it passes through the neck 11 and opening 22 into the space 12 surrounding the tubes 4 and the heads 17 and 18. The cooling fluid enters through the inlet 1 to thering 2O and then through the neck 2, head 17, tubes 4, head 18, neck 5 and out through the collar 6 into the fixed ring 7 and-through the outlet 8.

As stated the inner heads and tubes and associated parts are rotated at any desired speed, and the condensate which collects on the surface of the heads and tubes is thrown olf into the casing 19 from which it may be drawn off through the outlet 14.

In this way, the advantages of the removal of any adhering film or coat of insulating condensate are attained continually.

It is obvious that the apparatus may have a variety of forms while employing the idea of a revolving heat exchanger having the ad yvantages referred to. Obviously it may be used. to heat water or other fluids or gases by means of hot vapors, exposed to the heat exchanging action of a rotary drum or container.

' I claim:

y1. In a heat exchanger, the combination with a fixed casinghaving an inlet and an outlet for one Huid, of a. revolvable container enclosed therein having an inlet and an outlet for another Huid, and adapted by its revo lution to dislodge condensate therefrom by centrifugal force.

2.V In a heat exchanger, the combination stated in claim 1, said container comprising opposite heads and tubes between said heads.

3. In a heat exchanger, the combination stated in claim i1, the inlet to and outlet from said container comprising'hollow necks ex.- tending axially through the casing wall.

4.In a heat exchanger, the combination stated in claim 1, the inlet to and outlet from said container comprising hollow necks extending axially through the casing wall and fixed hollow supply and discharge rings surrounding and communicating with the outer ends of said necks respectively.

5. The combination stated in claim 1, the inlet to said casing comprising a hollow neck extending into the same around the axis of the container and rotatable therewith.

6. In a heat exchanger, the combination stated in claim 1, the inlet to and outlet from said container comprising hollow necks exE tending axially through the casing wall, the inlet yto said casing comprising a hollow neck extending axially through one fofthe necks of the container.

7. In a condenser in combination, an outer casing having an inlet for vapor and an out; 

